Bolster cushion and methods of use

ABSTRACT

A bolster cushion to raise the sitting height of a watercraft seat. The bolster cushion is sized and configured to rest on a horizontal seat portion of the watercraft seat and comprises a resilient foam core and an outer covering.

BACKGROUND

The seats in ski boats and fishing boats often sit very low. Many boat drivers or passengers prefer to sit higher when driving or riding in their boats for better visibility over the dash board of the boat, especially when pulling waterskiers, wakeboarders, wakesurfers and watertubers or when fishing. In order to raise the sitting height, boat drivers or passengers will often sit on life vests or throwable floatation devices or throw cushions placed on the seats. However, life vests and throw cushions are not particularly comfortable to sit on and they do not fit well on many boat seats causing them to slip off the seat whenever the user stands or moves around on the seat.

Accordingly, there is a need for a bolster cushion that will provide an elevated or raised sitting height for watercraft seats, which is properly sized to be received in the watercraft seat, which is comfortable to sit on, and which stays in place on the seat.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a bolster cushion disposed on a watercraft seat.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bottom side of the bolster cushion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a bolster cushion comprising stacked cushions.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bolster cushion of FIG. 3 showing the stacked cushions separated.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bolster cushion of FIG. 3 with the bolster cushions with one of the cushions positioned to provide a back cushion.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the bolster cushion comprising stacked cushions hingedly joined.

FIG. 7 a perspective view of the bolster cushion of FIG. 6 with the bolster cushions positioned to provide a back cushion.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a bolster cushion shown positioned on a watercraft seat.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bolster cushion shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the bolster cushion of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a rear elevation view of the bolster cushion of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a left side elevation view of the bolster cushion of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a right side elevation view of the bolster cushion of FIG. 9.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the of the bolster cushion of FIG. 9.

FIG. 15 is a bottom plan view of the bolster cushion of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a bolster cushion 10 disposed on a watercraft seat 12, such as the seat of a ski boat or fishing boat. FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of a bolster cushion 10 having a contoured recessed seat portion 50. The bolster cushion 10 provides an elevated or raised sitting height of the watercraft seat which is often desirable to drivers and riders of the watercraft.

The bolster cushion 10 comprises a generally rectangular resilient cushion body 20 sized and configured to be received on the horizontal seat portion 14 of the watercraft seat 12. The resilient cushion body 20 has an upper surface 22, a lower surface 23, a front end 24, a rear end 25, a left side 26 and a right side 27. The resilient cushion body 20 is comprised of a resilient foam core 30 surrounded by an outer covering 32. The material comprising the resilient foam core 30 may be open cell foam or closed cell foam or a combination of open cell and closed cell foam layers or other suitably resilient foam material. The density of the foam material comprising the foam core 30 may vary according to the stiffness desired for the cushion body 20, but generally a firm to medium-firm stiffness is desirable. Open cell foam is generally more comfortable for use as a sitting cushion and the open cell material enables water to drain away if it becomes wet. The cushion body 20 may be treated with an antimicrobial agent to prevent mold and mildew. Marine grade open cell polyurethane is one example of suitable material for the cushion body which is treated with an antimicrobial agent. Closed cell foam is typically stiffer than open cell foam, but closed cell foam does not retain water and therefore a bolster cushion 10 which comprises closed cell foam may also serve as a floatation device. Accordingly, it may be desirable to provide a bolster cushion 10 which is comprised of an upper layer of open cell foam 30A and a lower layer of closed cell foam 30B as illustrated in FIG. 2. In such an embodiment, the lower closed cell foam layer 30B will provide a level of rigidity and support to the bolster cushion 10 while the upper open cell foam layer 30A provides a softer cushion layer for comfort.

The outer covering 32 may be vinyl and/or other suitable material that preferably resists mold and mildew and can withstand exposure to sun and water. The outer covering 32 is preferably configured to fit snuggly over the resilient foam core 30, such that the bolster cushion 10 has a finished upholstered appearance which matches or is complimentary to the upholstered watercraft seats. The outer covering 32 may include an opening 34 on the lower surface 23 of the body 20 with a zipper closure or other other suitable closure, such as snaps, Velcro®, lacing, or the like, to permit the foam core 30 to be removable from the outer covering 32.

The bolster cushion 10 may have any desired height dimension, but a cushion height of between four to eight inches is typically suitable. Additionally, the height of the bolster cushion 10 may be adjustable by incorporating stackable cushions 10A, 10B (FIG. 3). For example, each of the stackable cushions may have a height of four inches such that when stacked together the total cushion height is approximately eight inches. Additional cushions may be added or subtracted to provide the desired sitting height. In such an embodiment, each stackable cushion comprises a resilient foam core 30 and outer covering 32 as previously described. In one example, the upper cushion 10A may have an open cell foam core 30A and the bottom cushion may have a closed cell foam core 30B as illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatively each cushion 10A, 10B may comprise open cell foam or a combination of open and closed cell foam layers as previously described.

To prevent the stackable cushions 10A, 10B from moving with respect to one another, the cushions may be removably secured together using mating hook and loop fasteners 36, such as Velcro® strips, on the upper side 22 of the bottom cushion 10B and on the lower side 23 of the top cushion 10A as illustrated in FIG. 4. Of course, if it is desirable to have a lower height elevation, the stackable cushions can be detached from one another and only one cushion may be used on the watercraft seat. Alternatively, the cushions may be detached from one another and used as pillows or head rests when laying on the boat deck, or as cushions for other purposes. Alternatively, one of the cushions may be positioned vertically on the seat and used as a back cushion and lumbar support as shown in FIG. 5.

In an alternative embodiment, the top and bottom cushions 10A, 10B may be hingedly attached by mating flaps 38 extending from one side of each of the top and bottom cushions which connect together using snaps, Velcro® strips or other suitable attaching means. With this configuration, the top cushion 10A may be pivoted with respect to the lower cushion 10B as shown in FIG. 6 and used as a pillow when laying on the boat deck, or for other desired uses. Alternatively, with the hinged configuration, the top cushion 10A may be flipped up and used as a back cushion or for lumbar support as shown in FIG. 7.

The bolster cushion 10 may include one or more pockets 40, which may be made of the same material as the outer covering 32 or the pocket may be made of a mesh netting material.

The bolster cushion 10 may also include one or more straps 42 for use as handholds for carrying the cushion or when used as a floatation device. The strap 42 may be made of a fabric material, such as nylon, polyester and other suitable materials.

A lanyard or cord 44 may be attached to one of the straps 42 on the bolster cushion 10 for securing the bolster cushion 10 to the seat of the watercraft.

Referring to FIGS. 8-15, the upper surface 22 of the bolster cushion 10 may be contoured to provide a recessed seat portion 50. The recessed seat portion 50 may be sloped downwardly and rearwardly from front end 24 toward the rear end 25 and downwardly and inwardly from the outer sides 26, 27 toward the middle thereby defining a cup shape in which the user sits.

Various embodiments of the invention have been described above for purposes of illustrating the details thereof and to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The details and features of the disclosed embodiment[s] are not intended to be limiting, as many variations and modifications will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art. Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to be interpreted broadly and to include all variations and modifications coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claims and their legal equivalents. 

1. In combination, a watercraft seat and a bolster cushion for raising a sitting height of the watercraft seat, the bolster cushion comprising: a resilient cushion body sized and configured to rest on a horizontal seat portion of the watercraft seat, the resilient cushion body comprising a resilient foam core; an outer covering surrounding the resilient foam core; a strap secured to a side of the cushion to serve as a hand hold.
 2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the cushion body comprises an upper cushion and a lower cushion.
 3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the upper cushion is removably attached to the lower cushion.
 4. The combination of claim 2, wherein the upper cushion is hingedly attached to the lower cushion.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein an upper surface of the resilient cushion body includes a recessed seat portion which is contoured downwardly and rearwardly from a forward end toward a rearward end and downwardly and inwardly from opposing sides toward a middle of the cushion body.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the resilient cushion body comprises open cell foam.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein the resilient cushion body comprises an open cell foam layer and a closed cell foam layer.
 8. The combination of claim 2 wherein the upper cushion body comprises open cell foam and the lower cushion body comprises closed cell foam.
 9. The combination of claim 2 wherein each cushion body comprises an open cell foam layer and a closed cell foam layer. 